Then and Now: 120 Bioeconomy Pioneers look at yesterday, today, inspirations and challenges

Jeffrey Mahaffey

Then:  I was part of a group trying to sell the assets of Twin Rivers Technologies to FELDA, and convince them to invest in a multi-feedstock oilseed crushing facility in Canada. I joined Twin Rivers in August that year and one of the main businesses was biodiesel. The expectation was that we would expand biodiesel, leverage the oilseed crush capability, and expand specialty foods, mainly omega-3 oils.

Now: I have formed a new company, HBI USA, in partnership with HBI Paris to broker glycerine from the biodiesel industry as well as oleochemicals. The US will become a larger exporter of glycerine as its biodiesel methyl ester industry probably has the most upside of any region. I’m studying French.

Inspirations:  I love the chemistry and the innovation of converting carbohydrates into hydrocarbon alternatives and getting the costs down. I believe that algae will create the right cost structure since it can make protein as well as carbohydrates or lipids. The world will be in need of protein for a long time so this can secure a good revenue stream. Algae may do better than cellulosic options since there seems to be no end of complications with handling and processing cellulosic feedstocks. I don’t think petroleum is going to be priced high enough long enough for the cellulosic options to pan out.

Challenges: The most frustrating thing I think is the complexity of using all the carbohydrate waste effectively. This should be the solution since the volume rivals hydrocarbon resources. Miracles will have to happen to solve the collection and preparation issues cost effectively.